The Braille Forum Vol. XVI November 1977 No. 5 Published Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * President: Floyd Qualls 501 N. Douglas Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73160 * National Representative: Durward K. McDaniel 1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 506 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 833-1251 * Editor: Mary T. Ballard 190 Lattimore Road Rochester, NY 14620 (716) 244-8364 The Braille Forum seeks to promote the independence and dignity of all blind people; to stress responsibility of citizenship; to alert the public to the abilities and accomplishments of the blind. The Braille Forum carries official news of the American Council of the Blind and its programs. It is available for expression of views and concerns common to all blind persons. ***** ** Contents ACB Officers Notice to Subscribers In Quest of Constitutional Rights, by Otis H. Stephens Amtrak "Economies" Challenged; Redcaps to Remain, by Kathy Megivern Aftermath of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals, by Reese Robrahn Better Jobs and Income?, by Durward K. McDaniel Humphreys Named to Head RSA Strength Through Unity, by George Fogarty He's Nearly Blind But Still Paints Reorganization of the Office of Human Development -- Another HEW Bungle, by Reese Robrahn In the Interest of Better Library Service New Food Stamp Amendments Signed Into Law Air Travel -- Part I. General Information, by John Dillon Recipe for Service Let's Share Resources, by Norma L. Schecter Hyde Park Corner: On Educating the Sighted Public, by Kathy Chapman Consumer Input Reflected in New Standards for Function and Structure In Memoriam: John F. Murken, by Terry Snyder Here and There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon ***** ** ACB Officers * President: Floyd Qualls, 501 North Douglas Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 * First Vice President: Alma Murphey, 4103 Castleman Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 * Second Vice President: Billie Elder, 5317 W. 29th Street, Little Rock, AR 72204 * Secretary: M. Helen Vargo, 833 Oakley Street, Topeka, KS 66606 * Treasurer: J. Edward Miller, 1120 Coddington Place, Charlotte, NC 28211 ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large-type, and two recorded editions — flexible disc (8 1/3 rpm), which is inexpensive to produce and may be kept by the reader, and cassette, which must be returned so that the tape can be re-used. Send subscription requests and address changes to The Braille Forum, 190 Lattimore Road, Rochester, NY 14620. Items intended for publication may be submitted in print, braille, or tape and should be addressed to the editor, Mary T. Ballard, at the above address, or to one of the associate editors: George Card, 605 S. Few Street, Madison, WI 53703 Margaret Freer, 11816 West Blue Mound Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Ione B. Miller, 9291 Fermi Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123 Joseph Wiedenmayer, 5604 Montgomery Street, Chevy Chase, MD 20015 Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions may be sent to ACB Treasurer J. Edward Miller, 1120 Coddington Place, Charlotte, NC 28211. Anyone wishing to remember ACB in his or her Last Will and Testament may use the following language in a special paragraph for that purpose: "I give and bequeath unto the American Council of the Blind, a District of Columbia not-for-profit corporation, the sum of $, __"; or "__ % of my net estate" or: "the following described property ... Said bequest is made and devised to be used for the Council's corporate purposes in the interest of blind and visually impaired persons." If your wishes are more complex, your attorney may communicate with the ACB National Office. ***** ** In Quest of Constitutional Rights By Otis H. Stephens A recent issue of The Braille Forum reported on the United States Court of Appeals decision upholding Judy Gurmankin's Constitutional right to compete for a public-school teaching position. The American Council of the Blind and the National Association of Blind Teachers were parties to an amicus brief filed with the Court of Appeals in support of her legal action against the Philadelphia School Board. The Gurmankin case is important because it recognizes that blind teachers (and, by clear implication, handicapped persons in many other fields of employment) cannot be presumed incompetent merely because of their handicap. Such a presumption, unrelated to evidence of job performance, violates due process of law. Judy Gurmankin attended the NABT conference at Miami Beach and gave an informative account of her long struggle with the Philadelphia School System. That struggle began even before she graduated from Temple University with a major in English and a teaching certificate. Although she had made it clear from the start that she wished to teach in the regular public-school curriculum, she was assigned student teaching in a Philadelphia school program for visually handicapped children and was denied the opportunity to teach sighted pupils in that school district. She managed to pick up her required student teaching in Schwenksville, a neighboring community, and upon certification, applied for a teaching position in her native city of Philadelphia. She recalled her disappointment, frustration, and anger at the School Board's refusal to permit her to take the required qualifying examination. This refusal was not based on Judy Gurmankin's academic record or teaching performance. Rather, it rested on an arbitrary but well-established Board policy that sighted students must have sighted teachers. The School Board's original denial of her application occurred in 1969. She did not immediately file suit, but tried repeatedly to persuade the Board to modify its policy. Finally, in 1974, she was permitted to take the examination, which she passed. At this point, she was "fully qualified" for a teaching position, but the normal placement process did not follow. Only after she filed suit was any serious effort made to place her, and even then she did not receive a job offer consistent with her certification or with normal expectations of seniority. As a direct result of her success in court, she now has a high-school teaching position in the school that she originally designated as her first choice. But it took eight years of persistent effort on her part -- effort that was costly in psychological as well as financial terms. In recounting the events leading to her court victory, Ms. Gurmankin talked candidly about the difficulty of deciding to sue one's prospective employer, about the years of waiting for a favorable decision, and about the uncertainty of the outcome. One of the costs of her effort was the occasional criticism from other teachers, who resented her method of challenging the old order. Some of that resentment is still apparent and puts added pressure on Judy Gurmankin to perform well in her new position. She recognizes the challenge and is making a serious effort to meet it. Unlike Judy Gurmankin, many of us are inclined to take our Constitutional rights for granted -- to assume that it isn't really necessary to go to such trouble to protect our interests. Often it isn't necessary. Tactics of education, persuasion, and accommodation can frequently be effective. But, as Judy Gurmankin discovered, they are not always sufficient. A point is sometimes reached at which one individual, especially in dealing with an impersonal bureaucracy, must either resort to the courts or give up a legal right. This is not a pleasant choice. It involves exposing one's self to public and professional criticism. But the recognition of Constitutional rights has always been a painful process. Recollection of the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and '60s makes that plain. And the point is underscored by the movement for women's rights, now more than a century old in the United States. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the 1977 HEW Regulation designed to implement it provide evidence of the need to give legal force to the rights of handicapped people. Judy Gurmankin's individual battle is fully consistent with this collective effort to achieve equality of opportunity. It is important to remember that what she sought was not a guarantee of professional success, but an opportunity to compete for a job. That opportunity was not, and is not, dependent on a quota system or on reverse discrimination. It was, and is, dependent, however, on a legal system that forbids employers to bar qualified handicapped persons from their chosen fields of work. Sometimes, as in Judy Gurmankin's case, it will be necessary to go to court to vindicate this right. Statutes and regulations, no matter how detailed, are not self-enforcing. It is for this reason that the American Council of the Blind and its affiliates support litigation and stress the importance of individual responsibility in asserting Constitutional rights. ***** ** Amtrak "Economies" Challenged; Redcaps to Remain! By Kathy Megivern For a short time in September, it looked as if the Amtrak train stations along the Northeast Corridor from Boston to Washington would no longer offer the services of Redcaps. Among other things, the Redcap porters assist elderly and handicapped passengers in using terminals, boarding trains, and handling baggage. Amtrak, in the name of economy, announced its decision to eliminate the Redcaps. However, both public and governmental reaction was immediate. The Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement of the Interstate Commerce Commission filed suit against Amtrak and obtained a temporary restraining order to assure continued Redcap service while the legal battle ensued. At this point, an amicus curiae brief was filed in the case by sixteen organizations representing the elderly and handicapped, as well as the National Association of Railroad Passengers. The American Council of the Blind was among the organizations filing this brief. Also included were the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, the Pennsylvania Federation of the Blind, and the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. Whereas the ICC filing had based its allegations solely upon the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1973 and Commission regulations thereunder, the amicus brief presented the additional argument that providing passenger assistance is a matter controlled by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and that thus, Section 504 mandates the provision of such services. Since neither the ICC nor the Department of Transportation has issued regulations defining levels of service which must be provided to the elderly and handicapped, the brief argued that the court should order Amtrak to continue services at present levels. The effectiveness of the swift action by ACB and others was reported in a September 29 memorandum from James J. Raggio of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, who acted as chief counsel in the case: "Good news! Amtrak has agreed to keep all of the eighty Redcaps at the nine stations in the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak's decision was largely based on the amicus brief which your organization filed along with sixteen other consumer groups, as well as pressure from the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks, which represents the Redcaps. "The Department of Justice is seeking to draw up a consent agreement with Amtrak to end the lawsuit. We will be in touch with you in the near future with some suggestions for getting DOT to move on its Section 504 regulations for Amtrak." It is hoped that the swift, concerted action of ACB and other groups will persuade the Department of Transportation to finally issue its much-needed regulations under Section 504. (Note: Only one month after citing economic hardship as its justification for eliminating the eighty Redcaps, the Amtrak Board sent to the President an ambitious five-year plan to "improve" service, which would include the purchase of 353 new rail passenger cars, "modernization of rail stations, and upgrading of tracks.) ***** ** Aftermath of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals By Reese Robrahn On August 24, 25, and 26, 1977, the National Advisory Planning Council of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals convened to review and finalize the report and implementation plan of the Conference. Assisting the Council at its invitation was a committee of fifteen state directors. From the outset of the first session, it was apparent that dissatisfaction with the chairman, Dr. Henry Viscardi, and with the executive director, Jack Smith, had reached the point of mutiny. It was charged that Dr. Viscardi was rarely present to chair the meetings of the Council, and in his absence, he assigned the duty of chairing the meetings to the executive director. It was charged that Jack Smith, the executive director, insisted that the report of the Conference had to be cleared through two or three administrative layers with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, including the Secretary of the Department; all notwithstanding the fact that the Statute states that the Conference report shall be made to the President of the United States and to the Congress of the United States. Fear was therefore expressed that the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals would be just another "paper conference without implementation." The mood of the Council, though late in coming, was one of asserting itself through action. It elected as its vice chairman H. W. (Bill) Heller. It divided itself into task forces which revised and substantially shortened the staff. prepared report and implementation plan. Just before adjournment of the last session, the committee of state directors was asked to present its report to the Council; the reading of which resulted in a pindrop-shattering silence, which ended with the punctuation to adjourn. That report, in part, is as follows: "We are determined that these recommendations be implemented, that they do not gather dust on some bookshelf, that they are not watered down, misdirected, misinterpreted, shunted aside, that they are not forgotten in some governmental maze. "This determination has led us, after some deliberation, to the unanimous vote of no confidence in the chairman of this Council, Henry Viscardi; and the executive director of the White House Conference staff, Jack Smith. "These two persons have been in a position to see that the White House Conference was so constructed that implementation of recommendations would be a natural follow-through, and they have failed to do so. These two persons have been in a position to lead this Council so that it could accomplish its work with dispatch, and they have failed to do so. These two individuals are in a position to prepare the way in Congress, in HEW, and in other agencies, for the implementation, and they are failing to do so. These two persons will be in a position, in the future, to ensure the success of the implementation, and by their past actions, we know that they will not do so. "Because of their continuing mismanagement of the process, and because their disregard for the clear intentions of the handicapped community of this nation, we unanimously express no confidence in these two persons. "We expect that our vote will be recorded in your minutes; we will be sending our statement, in writing, to each Council member and to Secretary Califano and to President Carter." Though not yet officially announced, Jack Smith has returned to the National Institute for the Deaf at Rochester, New York, and William Bean, detailed from the Office for Handicapped Individuals, has assumed the duties of Acting Executive Director of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals. The final report of the Conference has gone to the Government Printing Office and will be available sometime after October 31. The implementation plan will be finalized by the Council on October 27 and 28. This plan, by law, is the joint responsibility of the Council and the Secretary of HEW. Perhaps the most significant incident of the aftermath of the Conference is the report that President Carter refused to make an appointment to personally receive the presentation of the report of the Conference. We are asking: Is this another foreboding signal that the Carter Administration has adopted a policy of low priority for programs for the handicapped? ***** ** Better Jobs and Income? By Durward K. McDaniel H.R. 9030, the Carter Administration's welfare reform program, would make many changes, including a merger of Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Supplemental Security Income programs. It would abolish the food stamp program. Its proponents claim that H.R. 9030 would create a more uniform and simplified program, but it is complex and diverse. As of 1981, a blind beneficiary could receive $2,500 annually, but there is no annual cost-of-living increase provision as now exists in Title XVI. The cost-of-living escalator effect on annual benefits would, at the present rate, by 1981 raise the annual benefit to a figure higher than $2,500 for an individual. Nevertheless, proponents say that such a figure is supposed to also offset for the loss of food stamps. Clearly, the benefit figure is from $500. Blind persons as well as aged and disabled persons and some parents are classified as "not expected to work." The present disregard of $65 per month of earned income for aged, blind, and disabled persons would be abolished. Their monthly benefits would be reduced at a rate of $.50 for each $1 earned (or up to $.70 for each $1 earned in some high states making high supplements). The deductions used under Title XVI in computing countable earned income are omitted. The present disregard under Title XVI of the first $20 a month of unearned income is omitted, but a disregard of 20% of unearned income is included. The bill includes a complicated formula for benefits which would for the first time allow a benefit for the spouse of an aged, blind, or disabled person, even though such spouse is not aged, blind, or disabled. The amount of the benefit proposed for an eligible aged, blind, or disabled person and an eligible spouse is $3,750 annually, which is correspondingly low for reasons stated above. Between 1962 and 1972, a blind beneficiary could claim a monthly disregard of the first $85 of earned income, and so could an eligible spouse. Since 1962, the cost of living has increased 101.4%. Nevertheless, this bill would abolish the disregard of earned income (which was reduced in 1972 to $65 per month for an eligible individual and an eligible spouse). The bill does provide for the disregard of from 50% and no less than 30% of earned income. H.R. 9030 would create a job training and subsidized employment program for persons classified as "expected to work." The key to eligibility for such training and employment is the presence of a dependent child in the household. Clearly, this part of the legislation is intended to apply only to families with dependent children. In this category, the bill provides for a disregard of $3,800 of earned income annually. But the benefit amount is lower for a family than for a blind person who is not expected to work. Likewise, the earned income tax credit provisions of H.R. 9030 are restricted to beneficiaries and other poor persons who have a dependent child in the household. In this and in the job training and employment provisions, there is no uniformity. ACB has joined in testimony with many other organizations to advocate improvement in this legislation. ACB will separately give additional emphasis to all issues which affect blind beneficiaries directly, in the interest of preserving the best features of Title XVI and improving the best features of H.R. 9030. As H.R. 9030 is now written, the Administration has not made a persuasive case for abolishing Title XVI, although SSI could be improved by some of the provisions of H.R. 9030. When Secretary of HEW Joseph A. Califano, Jr. appeared before the Special House subcommittee to explain H.R. 9030, Congressman Al Ullman, Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, told him that the bill is unworkable. The Administration had counted on Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan to introduce a companion bill in the Senate, but he is now critical of the bill and has said publicly that it will have to be rewritten. We will keep you informed of developments on this important legislation. ***** ** Humphreys Named to Head RSA Joseph A. Califano, Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, has announced the appointment of Robert R. Humphreys as the new Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. Mr. Humphreys comes to RSA from the U.S. Senate Committee on Human Resources, where he has served as special counsel since 1971. In his position with the Human Resources Committee, he was chief legislative adviser to Senator Jennings Randolph, ranking Majority member the Committee. Mr. Humphreys was the sole or principal architect of several major bills which have become law, including the Black Lung Benefits Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments. His work for the Committee also involved writing committee reports, floor statements, speeches, analyses and position papers in areas ranging from labor and employment to health, aging, and handicapped individuals. He also worked closely as a consultant with state agencies, private organizations, and the news media. Born May 7, 1938 in Eugene, Oregon, Mr. Humphreys is a graduate of the University of Washington, and he received his law degree in 1965 from George Washington University Law School, where he was an editor of the George Washington Law Review. He is a member of both the Virginia and the District of Columbia Bar Associations. Because of his vital role in the drafting and passage of the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments, Bob Humphreys was awarded a plaque by the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America at their national convention in Chicago in 1974, where he was the guest speaker. In addition, the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Maryland presented him with an award that same year. He has also spoken at the conventions of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind in San Antonio, Texas (March, 1975) and the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Washington, D.C. (April, 1976). The Braille Forum congratulates Commissioner Humphreys on his appointment and joins with millions of handicapped people in their anticipation of a new and progressive attitude in rehabilitation. Mr. Humphreys was the principal architect of the civil rights section of the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1973 and obviously believes in the rights of handicapped people. He will need the collective help and advocacy of organizations and individuals to improve and to reform the Federal-state rehabilitation program. ***** ** Strength Through Unity By George Fogarty Banquet Address to the Washington Council of the Blind, Sept. 17, 1977, Seattle, Wash. In an editorial that appeared in the Braille Forum, written and presented several years ago by Fred Lilley, then a member of ACB's Board of Directors, he made some observations as pertinent today as when made. The title of the editorial was "SWEET ARE THE USES OF DIVERSITY." It read, at least in part, as follows: "The Bard has sung of the sweetness of the uses of 'adversity'; and certainly in its early days of travail, ACB was well acquainted with the bittersweet qualities of that state. Out of the futility of its prenatal struggle for the right of self-expression and dissent and the disillusionment bred of the credibility gap, grew a common determination among the founders of the organization to ensure that its policies should be forged from the free interplay of the diverse ideas and interests of all of its members. They were convinced that, though bound together in a common cause, the blind population and organizations of the blind have a wide diversity of interests, needs and ideas, and that each group and each individual has its unique contribution to make. "We often hear the question asked, "How can the sighted know what the blind want and of what is good for them?" We might with equal justification ask, how do I know what a blind teacher wants? How does a blind lawyer know what a blind secretary's needs are? Or, how does an agency for the blind know what is good for a blind vending stand operator? "One consequence of our decision to encourage rather than suppress diversity has been that the pages of our publication have not been commandeered solely for the propagation of our dogma but have been made available for the expression and competition of all sorts of rank-and-file ideas. We have not felt that any one man, or any group of men, has a monopoly on truth and wisdom. We have not felt that the garb of 'good aims' and 'good intentions' should be allowed to cloak unconscionable means. In the words of that consummate individualist and prototype of the American 'protester,' Thoreau, "There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted. If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.' So it is that in the interests of diversity, our President has never been permitted nor ever sought to dominate our board of directors, nor has our Board sought to dominate our members. So it is, too, that we have never aspired to issue from on high as to what certain groups OUGHT to want, such as vendors, teachers, secretaries, dog guide users, lawyers, programmers, etc. Instead, we have encouraged and fostered such groups within our midst so that they may forge their own programs and their own destinies. We have not gone to their house de­signing to 'do them good,' but have invited them into our house to deliberate among themselves and determine what they need and want; and we have stood ready to help them attain it. "Yet I do not imply that the obligation of these diversified interest groups ends with the formulation of their own programs and with enlisting the aid and facilities of the general body as needed. They also have the obligation to lend their special talents to the achievement of the goals of other groups and to participate in and contribute to the general activities of the organization, as most of them have done with enthusiasm and distinction." So much for the editorial written so long ago, and yet so true today. This editorial set me thinking of what ACB has meant to me: why I joined it, and why it is such a source of pride to me. While such short notice did not permit a proper recording of this, I would like to take just a few moments to say something concerning it. We all have our own special reasons, of course, and many of mine are of importance only to me. There are three, however, of sufficient importance to all to warrant mention at this time. First, the philosophy expressed and practiced by ACB has a special appeal for me. Listen to this! The Council is not the kind of critic who negates, lambastes, and criticizes, but it takes a positive approach toward problems, evaluates existing services and promotes new ones. Participation in the on-going process of formulation, evaluation, and innovation of services designed to meet the needs of all ages and groups of visually handicapped individuals is a vital function of this organization whose members have joined together to accomplish what they cannot do separately. In organizational work the role of the individual is unique. He is important because he is the only agent for change, and at the same time he is insignificant as far as the organization is concerned. Unless the individual member has a belief in something greater than himself, he cannot reach his potential. The good of the largest number must always be the cardinal principle for an organization when setting goals. Members do not live to themselves, they live together. In keeping with this positive point of view, ACB is strongly committed to a conviction that believes firmly in the value of unity through coalition. Its first venture on this road occurred with the decision to work with, rather than oppose, NAC, the National Accreditation Council, a decision that has been a tremendous step forward for the consumer. Despite the senseless prattle heard to the contrary, with ACB leading the way, NAC has made major contributions toward improving delivery of services to the blind. It has acknowledged ACB's positive influence by endorsing an ever-increasing number of knowledgeable consumers on its Executive Board and on its Committees. ACB next joined the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. It recognized the need for handicapped people to unite their strengths to achieve common objectives. In a recent article appearing in the Braille Forum, Reese Robrahn asked the question: "What happened to bring about the enactment of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the promulgation of its Regulation on April 28, 1977?" "The realization of this law did not occur because of the 'organized blind movement,' composed of a tiny fraction of the total population of disabled people. It did not come about because of the rise and organization of other disability groups -- the deaf, the orthopedically handicapped or parents' organizations. It did not result from the seeking of special services for one disability, to the exclusion of others. It did not come about through divisiveness and separatism. "No! Many forces and factors in our society conjoined to produce the light that is the dawning of 'the new day.' But first, last, foremost, and indispensable was and is the cooperation and collective action of many groups and organizations of and for handicapped individuals in providing information and consultation to the executive branches of government all levels through countless meetings and conferences, working with the members of the Congress and state legislatures informally and at hearings, conducting programs of public information and awareness through literally thousands of projects, and through rallies and demonstrations, and through the courts. "In particular, and of greatest significance has been and is the structuring of that effort into a formal organization for strong and united action, the founding of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. Its 46 member organizations represent a total of three million persons. The American Council of the Blind was one of its founding members. ACB believes that collective action through coalition is the only way to protect our gains and to achieve full realization of all civil rights for all handicapped citizens." The next step along this way occurred with the acceptance of ACB into the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a voluntary, non-partisan association of autonomous national organizations seeking to advance civil rights of ALL Americans through governmental action at the national level. The Conference, with ACB, has 137 members, at my last count, which gives it considerable influence when speaking to legislation affecting civil rights. The blind and physically handicapped are all too often excluded from civil rights legislation. Discrimination against sex, race, religion and ethnic origin is spelled out, but blindness and handicapping conditions rarely were cited. ACB's participation in the Leadership Conference offers a far stronger voice than we have had before. The American Council was the first national organization of blind or handicapped individuals to be accepted by the Conference. In the years ahead, the blind and physically handicapped will reap many benefits because of ACB's participation in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. One of the latest accomplishments down this road to constructive action has been ACB's affiliation with ALL, the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America, designed to bring together organizations of and for the blind for the purpose of reaching unified goals and pressing toward them as one solid force. A truly inspiring moment occurred at our last National Convention when Frank Bowe, President of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, a totally deaf man, paid tribute to ACB. "Together, we can accomplish so much more," he said. "With the experience, ACB has brought," he went on, "we have made monumental gains. ACB is the guiding light. Without its expertise, political experience and legal help, 504 would not have happened. Things are now happening because we have our act together! We have to bring the knowledge, the experience, the sensitivity of the twenty-four-hour experience which a handicap brings, and bring it all together, and work together for the overcoming of our many needs. You have so many reasons to be proud of ACB!" he said. It was, indeed, an awe-inspiring moment. My second reason for the pride that is mine has to do with the people who make up the membership of ACB. There is nothing that could truly tell you what I mean; only attending a National Convention can do that for you. Their keen appreciation of true values, their appreciation and enjoyment in the strengths of others, their breadth of understanding and generosity towards others, the positive image they leave with all who meet them -- this is an experience I hope all of you will seek next year in Salt Lake City. It will bring to you a pride, not possible to put into words, in the knowledge that you are a part of such a movement. Finally, I take pride in ACB for what it can do and has done for me, and for you, and for the many others who seek us out or that we invite in. James Truslow Adams, an historian, describing the process of public opinion, said: "It is not the sudden lightning stroke that splits the granite of the hills, but the innumerable little rifts and streams which are broadened and extended by the rains and frosts season after season." If we are to erode the terraces of tradition that have been built as barriers, barring the way to those who would surmount them, it is, as Dr. T. Munford Boyd, blind lawyer, college professor, and a member of ACB, so aptly puts it, "incumbent on each of us to keep chipping away at these barriers, removing, at least, a stone or two." This, in essence, is what membership in ACB is all about. This is why we must never cease, and why we must increasingly become, "a voice, not an echo." In conclusion, remember this, a thought expressed by someone long ago: "There are billions of leaves, but no two have ever been alike. No two raindrops have ever been identical; and no one person has ever been made, or ever will be made, exactly like you. The print of your finger is different; you think differently, and you look different from any other person who has ever lived." As pointed out at the outset of this presentation, ACB fully recognizes the fact that we can each make some special contribution to the life of the world. Usefulness, being concerned with the needs of others, having the courage to face unpleasantness and disappointment (a courage made easier when shared), and the knowledge that can come from this experience-these very precious goals in life can be more fully realized in becoming a part of something such as ACB. We have something special to share with those in need of this fulfilling experience. Invite them into our house, to reason and act together. Self-confidence, self-acceptance, acceptance of one's problems and limitations, harnessed with a willingness to work for change leads to purposeful action. Look up, not down. Look forward, not back. Look out, not in. ***** ** He's Nearly Blind But Still Paints D.H. Belden, blind in one eye and with 10% vision in the other, is an artist. With hands swollen by arthritis and shaking from age, he paints New England scenes, real and imagined. "The shaking helps with the landscapes," said the legally blind 80-year-old painter, feigning brush strokes in the air as he laughed. "I never did pass that eye test to drive, but I can sit down and turn out stuff like this." Most of his works depict winter scenes with snow-covered houses emitting curls of black smoke. Others, like a white-on-black Christmas card of several naked trees standing in the snow, are more starkly defined. Belden, whose tools include not only paint and brushes, but also a magnifying glass, prefers watercolors to oil paint because he delights in detail. "I go for detail in a big way. I don't think a picture is any good without it," he says. He paints just as often as the mood comes. "You've got to feel it," he explained. "When something comes up that appeals to me, I go to work on it. I get a thrill taking paint and a flat piece of paper and turning it into something with dimensions," he said in an interview. Belden's vision hasn't changed much since he was two weeks old when disease apparently attacked his then healthy eyes. But he has been able to see well enough to get around and support himself through the years as a small businessman, grocer, house painter, and wallpaper hanger. And he takes special pride in his ability to distinguish colors. Belden smiles broadly as he tells of being asked to mix paint for fully sighted co-workers. His smile grows as he tells that the paint matched so well his supervisor couldn't tell where it was used to touch up years-old paint on the walls. His father taught him to paint when he was a child. Since then, he has been putting colors on canvas, the backs of posters, birchbark, glass, or whatever else was available. ***** ** Reorganization of the Office of Human Development -- Another HEW Bungle By Reese Robrahn Without first consulting with organizations of handicapped individuals or appropriate committees of the Congress, and without awaiting the recommendations of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare on July 26 announced its reorganization of the Office of Human Development Services. On September 8 and 12, the Sub-committee on Select Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor (John Brademas, Chairman) held hearings on the reorganization, and on September 20, the Subcommittee on the Handicapped of the Senate Committee on Human Resources (Jennings Randolph, Chairman) followed suit. The first witness on the second day of the hearings in the House was Arabella Martines, Assistant Secretary, Office of Human Development Services. Chairman Brademas and other members of the Subcommittee kept Mrs. Martines present at the hearings for approximately one hour and 45 minutes. Mr. Brademas was severely critical of the Department's procedure in the reorganization, particularly in its total failure to seek input from "clients" and organizations of handicapped individuals and consultation with members of the Congress while developing its reorganization plan. At one point, Mrs. Martines states that she had a list of people who had been contacted concerning the reorganization, and upon request, she read the names, among which was that of the chairman, Mr. Brademas himself. He stated that Secretary Califano had called him while he was in Europe to advise him of what had been done; and that the call certainly was not consultation or contact in the development of the reorganization, but was to inform him after the fact. And he then demanded that, the Assistant Secretary remove his name from the list. Chairman Brademas read from the record of the Subcommittee statements made to it during March, in which the Assistant Secretary promised that consumers and members of the Congress would be consulted during the development of the reorganization plan. To the query of Chairman Brademas as to why she had not done what she said she would do, Mrs. Martines replied that the decisions were made by persons higher in the administration. One committee member reacted at one point with two choice four-letter words which will no doubt appear in the record as expletives. The American Council of the Blind appeared at the hearings and entered its testimony. The following are excerpts from that testimony, as prepared and presented by Reese Robrahn. "... The main cog and center of the reorganization plan is the establishment of an Administration on Handicapped Individuals. The administrative level of the Administration on Handicapped Individuals is such that its chief administrator is to be one and the same, Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration. In the first place, dual administrative roles fly in the face of all good and recognized administration and management practice. In the second place, the administrative level is such that its minor status, within the Department of HEW, seriously hampers its effectiveness in the coordination and administration of all programs within the Department itself; and in any event, its minor status renders it totally ineffective in coordinating programs for the handicapped across departmental and agency jurisdictions. And third, the reorganization removes several important programs from the immediate administrative supervision of the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Human Development Services and situates the administration of the same at lower levels in the Department's organizational structure; and in some instances creates the situation wherein an administrator is charged with the function of oversight and monitoring of delivery-of-services programs which he himself administers. "Any reorganization of programs for handicapped individuals, if the same is to be successful, must somehow encompass all major programs which provide services, benefits, or cash assistance to men, women, and children with handicaps in all areas of societal life activities. For example: If one or more agencies provide services to a handicapped individual which take the handicapped individual through the requisite educational, job-training, or job-placement processes, but the handicapped individual so educated or so trained is prevented from accepting employment because the public transportation system is not accessible, and because he or she is too poor to provide private transportation, the immediate objective of opportunity for gainful employment is lost and the ultimate goal of full participation of the handicapped individual in the mainstream of society is thwarted. Thus, it is not enough, on the one hand, to provide medical or supportive services, or education and training services, and on the other hand, fail to provide programs and services which will assure that those who receive such services have the opportunity and physical capability to take advantage of them to maximum potential in day-to-day life activities. "The American Council of the Blind, therefore, must voice its opposition to the reorganization of the Department as totally inadequate and untenable as a solution for the problem of reorganizing programs for the handicapped to eliminate duplication and overlap, disincentives, conflicting eligibility for services requirements, gaps in services, confusion, and waste of public funds. Instead, we urge that the reorganization must be a sweeping and total overhaul of the existing conglomerate of programs, in many instances necessarily administered by different departments and agencies." The testimony then sets forth eight specific proposals which are designated as integral components of a reorganization plan. Paramount is the establishment and maintenance of separate and special delivery-of-services systems for the blind and the several other major categories of handicapping conditions or disabilities, through offices for each within the office of an assistant secretary. A second proposal calls for a White House adviser in the Office of Domestic Counsel, with equal responsibility for advising the President and in the coordination of all programs for the handicapped in all departments and agencies. Copies of the testimony have been forwarded to all ACB affiliate presidents. Anyone who wishes to receive to copy of this testimony may obtain it upon request from the ACB National Office. ***** ** In the Interest of Better Library Service DBPH News, July-August, 1977, published by the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, reports on a meeting held in July of an ad hoc advisory group to discuss, among other topics, ways to include more direct reader input into the book selection process. The article carries with it a photograph taken at the meeting of the assistant head of the DBPH Collection Development Section, Lucy Vecera, and James Chandler, chairman of the American Council of the Blind Library Committee and member of the ACB of Maryland. Mr. Chandler represented ACB at this conference, which was the second annual meeting involving cooperating libraries and representatives from consumer groups. One of the recommendations made by the group was that a questionnaire be run in Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review to ascertain the tastes and priorities of readers. At the 1977 ACB convention in Miami Beach, Resolution 77-11 requested that the Library of Congress add a section to both of the above-named publications which would accomplish this same goal of discovering users' interests. Another recommendation which emerged from the July meeting would involve contracting with interviewers who would discuss reading preferences with library users. ***** ** New Food Stamp Amendments Signed Into Law On September 29, 1977, President Carter signed into law the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977, which included as Title XIII of the new law comprehensive changes in the current food stamp law. Congress has been struggling with many of these major reform issues for two years, and the legislation which finally emerged from the conference committee in August will effectuate much-needed reforms. Although a detailed analysis of the legislation would be impractical here, some of the highlights deserve mention. The new law eliminates the purchase price for food stamps. As well as simplifying administration, this change will also open the program to many poor people who previously could not afford to pay the threshold cash price to obtain the needed stamps. The eligibility to receive food stamps has been tightened by reducing the net income level from $6,804 to $5,850 for a family of four. There has been publicity in recent years about the abuse of the program by students, and the new law makes it more difficult for students to qualify. Any student who is, or even could be, claimed as a tax deduction by an ineligible household will not qualify. Of those not in this category, only students who have dependents or who are working (or registered to work) 20 hours per week are eligible. Other administrative improvements which will benefit the users of the program permit certification other than in person in cases of elderly or handicapped applicants. A single interview is now required to determine the eligibility for food stamps of AFDC families. In addition, the USDA is required to issue regulations permitting households with all members receiving SSI to apply for food stamps in the local Social Security Office. Also, all public assistance application forms must include the information necessary to determine food stamp eligibility. It should be noted here that all categorical eligibility has been eliminated. This simply means that no household will be automatically eligible for food stamps based on eligibility for SSI or welfare. Food stamp eligibility will be established independently. The new law establishes a pilot program to test the feasibility of giving households in which all members are elderly or on SSI cash in lieu of food stamps. Some of the most interesting debate on the House floor arose over an amendment by Representative Symms of Idaho which would have prohibited the use of food stamps in purchasing non-nutritional foods. While the goal of improving the nutrition of our nation's poor people is a noble one, the Symms amendment could not escape the difficulties presented when any group of "experts" tries to establish standards which will define nutrition. The method suggested has its shortcomings, as was obvious when it was noted that peanut butter and apples would have been among the prohibited foods. Some Congressmen were opposed to the very notion of placing restrictions on the use of food stamps, and there was eloquent debate in defense of one's inalienable right to buy "Twinkies and Coca Cola." As a result, all mention of nutritional standards was deleted from the final bill. It is important to note that none of the above changes in the law will take effect before April or May, 1978. First, USDA must propose regulations and, after accepting public comments thereon, publish final regulations. As has been all too evident in recent years, those interested in food stamp reform cannot assume that proper regulations will be timely promulgated, and the law properly effectuated without a good deal of input and pressure from consumer groups. The Braille Forum will keep readers informed as the rule-making process gets under way. ***** ** Air Travel By John Dillon (Reprinted from Aloha Council of the Blind Newsletter, July-August, 1977) (Editor's Note: Air travelers have many rights. Mr. Dillon has taken advantage of the research of others and of his own experience to prepare a summary of these rights and to make a few suggestions. This report is in two parts: (1) general information and suggestions; and (2) FAA rules for the handicapped.) * Part I. General Information Air Fares -- There are excursion, night, stand-by, first-class, tourist coach economy, and other fares. Until this year, it was an almost impossible task to find out about them. However, as of June of this year, each airline must make available to you, at most ticket-selling locations, price lists describing its various fares between selected cities, exact dollar costs of the fares, and all of the restrictions imposed by the airline on the use of each fare. Reservations -- Many airlines engage in "over-booking"; that is, selling more seats than are available, contending that this practice is necessary to offset "no-shows." Most airlines "bump" passengers on a "last come, last served" basis, depending not only upon when you purchased your ticket, but when you arrive at the boarding gate. If you don't get to the boarding gate at least ten minutes before scheduled departure, your reservations could be canceled altogether, even if you have a boarding pass. However, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) regulations do provide some protection for passengers who are "bumped" from a flight that over-books. As a rule, the airline must immediately pay back cash for your ticket, plus a penalty of up to $200 (depending on the value of the ticket). This is called "denied boarding compensation" (DBC) and is given in the form of a check valid for 30 days. According to one report, the best way to make sure you collect the money is to be polite but firm with any and all airline agents, and just keep on citing the CAB regulation. Don't take no for an answer.) The International Air Transport Association still continues the practice of over-booking, even though the Association's decision is at odds with the unanimous Supreme Court decision last June that a passenger could sue an airline for fraudulent misrepresentation if it denied him a seat already reserved and confirmed. That decision arose out of a 1973 action brought in Federal Court against Allegheny Airlines, which "bumped" a passenger off a flight between Washington, D.C. and Hartford, Connecticut. The passenger, Ralph Nader, was awarded $25,000. Flight Delays and Cancellations -- If your flight is delayed or cancelled, different rules apply. However, there are many exceptions to the rules. Most important is this one: If the airline arranges for you to travel on another domestic flight scheduled to arrive at your destination in the U.S.A. within two hours after your original flight, no DBC is required. On international flights, four hours' wait is allowable. Amenities -- Amenities provided to travelers whose flights are delayed or cancelled vary from carrier to carrier. Some of the basic services provided when a delay is expected to last four hours or more are: Hotel rooms: Generally provided to passengers if the delay occurs between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless the trip is interrupted in the city where the passenger resides. Meals: Generally provided to passengers who would have received a meal on the flight which has been delayed or cancelled, if the delay extends beyond normal meal hours. Communications: Passengers usually are permitted, at the airline's expense, to make one long-distance, three-minute telephone call or send a 15-word straight telegram to any point in the continental United Stats. Ground transportation: The carrier will pay the cost of the transportation between the airport and your hotel or home. Baggage -- Airline tariffs limit the carrier's maximum liability for checked baggage lost or damaged to $750 per passenger ticket on a domestic flight. On international trips, the maximum liability is about $9 or $10 per pound, no more, regardless of value of articles lost, destroyed, or damaged. On all flights, you are responsible for carry-on luggage. You may purchase additional insurance coverage on your baggage, up to $5,000 total, for $.10 per $100 value. Cautions and Suggestions -- Never put money, jewelry, watches, silverware, manuscripts, valuable books or papers, securities or negotiable papers, artwork or antiques, in checked baggage. If you must check a musical instrument, be sure you already have your own complete insurance coverage. Carry toilet articles, eyeglasses, and medications yourself. Label your luggage, inside and outside. Lock your luggage. If your luggage is lost, damaged, or delayed, report it immediately before you leave the airport. If your luggage is delayed, ask the airline to pay you for any items you must purchase pending delivery of the luggage to you. If you run into trouble, write to Office of Consumer Advocate, Civil Aeronautics Board, Washington, DC 20248, and/or the president of the airline. ***** ** Recipe for Service Reprinted from ACBI Newsletter (Indiana) 4 cups patriotism; 2 cups open-mindedness; 2 1/2 cups attitude; 3 cups ambition; 1 cup tastefulness; 3 1/2 cups cooperation; 1 1/2 cups responsibility; 1 quart understanding; 1 1/4 cups initiative; 2 cups unbeaten patience; 4 cups ability; a big dash of judgment. Blend all ingredients well; sprinkle liberally with cheerfulness; and bake in an oven of determination. When done, cool and spread with common sense and intelligence. ***** ** Let's Share Resources By Norma L. Schecter This column will have to start with a "Sorry about that!" -- Price Correction: An inadvertent error was made in the prices announced for the Jumbo-Dot Braille edition of ABCs of Braille, by Bernard Krebs. The correct price should be $9.40 for the two-volume set in Jumbo-Dot Braille only; $10.40 for the two-volume set in Jumbo-Dot Braille plus facing print pages in large type. It is still available from Braille Institute of America, 741 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029. More Jumbo Jottings: Beach Cities Braille Guild has almost completed a set of Flash-Cards to accompany the ACB's of Braille in both regular Braille and in Jumbo. It will be on full-size Brailon sheets cut apart into flashcards, with a sample sentence or two accompanying each contraction, but no other contractions at all present in that sentence. Orders should be sent to Braille Institute. In the mill for this fall: Diabetic Exchange Lists and Diabetic Recipes (same guild, same agency). May I have feedback from readers: Would it be helpful to have recipes in loose-leaf binders so the reader may add his or her own new recipes? Alphabetical by recipe title or in groups by type of food? Write Norma L. Schecter, 8432 Northport Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. Address Card Suggestion -- In a "mixed marriage" or an office, a single address card file can do double duty. First, instead of a square file box, try a Rolodex or a horizontal file holder with the split-bottom card. Have all names, addresses, and phone numbers typed (or large-typed) on one side of the card. Then on the reverse side, present the braille information upside down, with the reference name appearing at the bottom of the card in reading position, which will be the upper edge of the card in filed position. Puts it at fingertip level when riffling through the cards, and your fingers will dangle down gracefully between the cards instead of being uncomfortably raised up. RNIB Pocket Slate -- The Tylor Postcard Frame (which is what the British call a slate) is RNIB Catalog No. 9196, 6-1/s by 4-¼ in., 26 cells to each line, 11 lines to each page. Smaller braille and smaller, sharper dots. Hence, more on each card -- especially helpful in brailling address cards. From Royal National Institute for the Blind 224 Great Portland Street, London WIN 6AA, England. Won't list the price, since prices change and the exchange rate varies. But their Catalog of Apparatus and Games and their Price List are available free of charge in both print and braille. How to Find Your Volunteer Transcribers -- Library of Congress issues a booklet (updated every few years) entitled Volunteers Who Produce Books -- Braille, Large Type, and Tape Recording. If there were enough requests from readers, perhaps it would be made available in large type and/or braille and updated more frequently. In California, the Clearing House-Depository for Handicapped Students issues an annual publication called A List of California Transcribers for use by the Department of Special Education. However, the braille edition each year is available at cost of materials only from: Braille Section, Associated Lions Clubs, 1071 E. Market Street, Long Beach, CA 90805. Cost this year is $3.60. ***** ** Hyde Park Corner Editor's Note: This column exists to provide a forum for the expression of divergent views of writers on timely subjects. Views expressed need not necessarily be concurred in or endorsed by the publisher. * On Educating the Sighted Public October 11, 1977 Dear Editor: In your September, 1977 issue of The Braille Forum, you reported on a speech by Dr. Clell Warriner to the national convention, American Council of the Blind. His comments about the ignorance, awkwardness, embarrassment, and fear of sighted people when dealing with the blind prompted me to write. I am the librarian for talking books at a subregional library here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is a part of the Tulsa City-County Library System. This past summer, a blind teenager who does volunteer work in my office and I presented a series of story-hour programs to children in Tulsa County libraries. The program went like this: First we showed a film about Helen Keller. Then I demonstrated how to talk to the deaf with sign language. Then my volunteer, Miss Rhanda Hasley, demonstrated the reading and writing of braille, mobility with a white cane, use of an Optacon, etc. She then answered questions from the children about blindness. The story-hour programs always carried over the time allowed. Children stayed grouped around Rhanda for an additional hour, asking questions and making a new friend. It was our objective -- and I believe we did achieve it -- to allow the children to learn that blind individuals are not to be feared or avoided. The volunteer, Rhanda Hasley, was named Volunteer Activist of the Year for the State of Oklahoma for her work at the library. In addition to the story-hour programs, Rhanda works in my office as a telephone receptionist and assists with talking book library service. A former blind library volunteer served last year as a page in the Oklahoma State Senate. Miss Angela Keele is now the first blind student at a private school here in Tulsa. Angela worked as a library volunteer from age 12 to 15. Rhanda started when she was 15 and is now 19. I am very proud that these two young ladies who gained work experience and self-confidence partially through their association with the Tulsa Library are going on to achieve success. I encourage other libraries and agencies to recruit blind students as volunteers. The student and the agency clients will all gain from the experience. Kathy Chapman -- Talking Books Librarian Tulsa City-County Library System ***** ** Consumer Input Reflected in New Standards for Function and Structure Consumer participation in the planning and program evaluation of agencies for the blind is stressed in the completely revised standards for Function and Structure published September 1, 1977 by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC). Members of the American Council of the Blind worked closely with NAC in preparing the standards which were revised in response to many new developments in the field. In addition to increased recognition of the importance of consumer participation, the standards respond to: 1. The increasing emphasis on serving the "severely disabled" and persons with multiple handicaps. 2. Strains placed on agencies' capacity to deliver specialized services by merging or submerging such services into "umbrella" agencies. 3. Increasing acceptance of concepts of openness, public accountability, and the circumstances when tax-exempt organizations should maintain "arms-length" business relationships with profit-making companies. 4. Growing awareness of the desirability of formal processes of planning and program evaluation conducted in the light of a clearly stated philosophy of services and realistic program objectives. Serving as co-chairman of the national Committee on Revision of Standards for Function and Structure were McAllister Upshaw, executive director, Greater Detroit Society for the Blind and Donald H. Wedewer, director, Florida State Office of Blind Services. The chairmen point out that a special feature of the standards is that they are incorporated in a self-study and evaluation guide that reflects more clearly the distinct and unique characteristics of governmental and voluntary organizations. A new page design makes it easy for each kind of agency to pick out the standards that apply specifically to its operations. Copies of the standards for Function and Structure are available at $1.50 each from the National Accreditation Council, Room 1406, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016. ***** ** In Memoriam: John F. Murken By Terry Snyder The American Council of the Blind of New Jersey deeply mourns the loss of their beloved friend and president, John F. Murken. John's sudden passing at the age of 57 on September 18, 1977, is an enduring loss for all who recall his untiring efforts. John operated a vending facility in the Criminal Court Building in Manhattan for over thirty years. He was one of the founders and a past president of the American Blind Bowlers Association. For more than five years, John has been an enthusiastic and imaginative leader in the blind consumer movement. He was a charter member and a member of the Board of Directors of the Howe Society of New York City. Three years ago, as their Public Awareness Chairman, he organized demonstrations against the Transit Authority's unsafe subway cars after a blind man had been killed. Less than two years ago, John set out to organize a New Jersey affiliate of American Council of the Blind, and in July, 1976, that affiliate received its charter. During the past year, he has built a firm foundation for the organization. Under his leadership, ACB of New Jersey is publishing a quarterly cassette newsletter of information of particular interest to blind persons, circulating a "talking" local newspaper to the blind people in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, actively opposing the "right tum on red" law, and currently focusing on special transportation for the handicapped. John was a member of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, the New Jersey Blind Men's Association, a delegate to the Consumer Advisory Board of the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, and an alternate delegate to the New Jersey Commission's Consumer Advisory Board. John's avocational interests were multiple and diversified We remember him as an avid reader, an expert indoor and outdoor gardener, a recording and electronic buff, and a fisherman. All of us who knew and loved John can attest to his zest for life, his sincerity and open-mindedness with people, and his need to understand and relate to persons in all walks of life. He brought to bear on his work with the American Council of the Blind a full grasp of the essentials of organization, an indefatigable and ubiquitous spirit, and a deep belief in the principles of the American Council of the Blind. American Council of the Blind of New Jersey, Inc. has established a John F. Murken Memorial Fund to promote John's favorite project, "CIE" -- Communication, Information, and Enlightenment. ***** ** Here and There by Elizabeth M. Lennon A recent issue of the White Cane Bulletin reports that members of the Mid-Florida Chapter, Florida Council of the Blind, are researching the possibility of an international symbol for the blind, to help bring an awareness to the sighted public of the various aspects of blindness. Anyone with ideas or suggestions, pro or con, is invited to send them to Dean Flewwellin, 2685 Environs Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32808. Disabled USA is a new publication of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, replacing Performance. According to Editor Diane Lattin, the new magazine is larger, and the type size has been increased for easier reading by persons with limited vision. Plans are being formulated to make the new publication available on cassette for blind readers. The Missouri Chronicle reports that at a recent Lions Club ceremony, Fred Lilley, President of the Missouri Federation of the Blind, received his 20-year pin as a Lion. For the past ten years, Fred has been active in the Maplewood, Missouri club, and before that was a member of the Oak Lawn, Illinois Lions Club. Blind cooks and hobbyists will be pleased to learn of two new publications, available in braille and large print, by the Catholic Guild for the Blind, 180 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601. Breads, the first in a series of supplements to the Guild's popular A Leaf From Our Table, contains recipes for both raised and yeast breads and stresses use of the hands in the craft of bread-making — to determine texture, shape, and doneness of the product. Cost: $5. Manual for Macrame, the art of tying knots, consists of a booklet of instructions and an accompanying booklet of illustrations. The illustrations are tactual portrayals of various knots, steps involved in making the knots, and variations in the knotting to form designs. Price: $2.50. --- Cooking for Two is a cassette available from the Center for Consumer Recordings, ABK, Inc., P.O. Box 308, Louisville, KY 40201, at a cost of $1.75. This collection of recipes is especially helpful for persons living alone, for elderly persons, and for very busy cooks. The most recent issue of "Publicity Tips," publication of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, concentrates on setting up a good public relations program for a small organization. Copies may be obtained by writing Muriel Horton, Editor, Publicity Tips, President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, Washington, DC 20210. From BPHL Update -- "Equal Opportunity of Access to Library Services" is the theme of the White House Conference on Library and Information Service, to be held in the fall of 1979. Regional and state conferences will be held preliminary to the national conference. All conferences hope to have heavy participation by interested persons, and both librarians and non-librarians will be selected as delegates. Additionally, patrons will have an opportunity to state their views as to the quality of library services to the handicapped. "Independence with Dignity: Action 1978" is the theme of the Second National Conference on Aging and Blindness, to be held March 27-30, 1978, at the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is being sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind, in cooperation with the Administration on aging and the Office for the Blind, Rehabilitation Services Administration. Included on the planning committee are ACB members Darrell Lauer of Missouri and Elizabeth Lennon of Michigan. A new quarterly periodical is now available to chess buffs. The new magazine will serve as a communications medium and will include games and news of special interest to chess players. Annual subscription is $5. For further information, write Gintautas Burba, 30 Snell Street, Brockton, MA 02401. A bulletin listing more than 100 free home-study courses is available from the Student Division, Hadley School for the Blind, 700 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL 60093. Courses feature individual tutoring by a personal instructor, and most are offered both in braille and on cassette. A unique conference to explore new ways of teaching arts and crafts to blind and visually handicapped persons was sponsored jointly by the University of California at Los Angeles, the Braille Institute of America, and the American Foundation for the Blind. Martin Isaacson, conference coordinator, said it was the first time that educators in this field had had an opportunity to meet and to examine all the implications of teaching arts and crafts to persons with sight limitations. The American Council of the Blind of Indiana recently added a chapter in Elkhart. The new group got off the ground auspiciously with thirty members, electing Jeanice Krysko as president. For the first time in its history, the Blinded Veterans Administration has elected a woman to a national office. Rose Feinberg of New York City was recently elected national Sergeant-at-Arms, defeating three male opponents for the office. Inside NIB reports that Mississippi Industries for the Blind, on an emergency basis, recently supplied 1,000 mattresses and box springs to the Government for distribution in West Virginia, devastated by floods earlier this year. VCVH Views and Ventures (Va.) -- A recent Gallup Poll reveals that cancer is the disease most feared by the American public, followed then by blindness, heart disease, and arthritis in that order. The poll covered 1,548 persons throughout the country. Annual Report, Warwick Research Unit for the Blind, University of Warwick (England) -- In cooperation with the American Foundation for the Blind, Braille Automation Newsletter has been produced as an aid to communicating with researchers and developers interested in applied research involving braille production of computer-assisted systems. Four issues were produced during 1976-1977.-An electric digital clock with audio output has been developed for the elderly and diabetic blind. From KAB News (Kansas) -- Genevieve Powell, Topeka, a member of ACB's Kansas affiliate, was recently named Handicapped Professional Woman of the Year at the Pilot International convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Pilot International is a service organization for business and professional women. At its annual convention in Kalamazoo, October 21-23, the Michigan Association of the Blind awarded charters to three new chapters in the northern part of the state. This brings total membership to nearly 1,000 and the number of chapters in this ACB affiliate to 24. From the Standard-Bearer (National Accreditation Council) -- Three more agencies have recently been granted NAC accreditation: Community Services for the Visually Handicapped, Chicago, Illinois; the Maine Institution for the Blind, Portland, Maine; and Central Association for the Blind, Inc., Utica, New York. There are now 67 NAC-accredited agencies and schools, serving more than 300,000 blind and visually handicapped persons through 200 facilities in 39 states. Dr. Peter J. Salmon was honored on June 3 by the Industrial Home for the Blind of Brooklyn for 60 years of service at IHB to blind and visually handicapped persons. The Migel Medal, presented annually for the past 40 years by the American Foundation for the Blind, was awarded on October 27 to Donald Blasch, Chairman, Department of Blind Rehabilitation and Mobility, Western Michigan University, and to John P. Morgan, Vice President, Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York. The medal is given annually by the Foundation in recognition of outstanding contributions in education, rehabilitation, and social welfare for blind persons, both directly in the field of blindness and indirectly outside the blindness system. Mr. Blasch was cited for his contribution to the field of orientation and mobility. Mr. Morgan served as a member of AFB's Board of Trustees and as Treasurer of the Foundation for more than 25 years. He also was given a special plaque at the ceremony upon his retirement as Treasurer of the Foundation. Three weeks before the November 1 application deadline for Ski for Light '76 in the Black Hills in South Dakota, some 50 applications had been received. While applications will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis after the deadline, persons applying early will be given preference. Therefore, anyone interested in participating should request the necessary forms as soon as possible from Grethe Twiford, 2305 White Tail Court, Reston, VA 22091. One hundred participants will be accepted, including ten from Norway. ###